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Book of... 

CO/\STITUTIO/N 
AND BY=L/\WS 

of the SOCIETY OF 
AMERICAN WARS 
of the United States*^ 



MINNEAPOLIS 
1899 



Book of Constitution and By-Laws 
of the' Society of American Wars ^ 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^of the United States 




Founded January 11 th, 1897 
Incorporated February J 0th, J 897 




MINNEAPOLIS 
J899 






89776 



Press of Leighton Bros. 

1899. 






^Ag«\ 



CONSTIXUXION 



ARTICLE I. 

TITLE. 

This Society shall be known as the "Society of American 
Wars" of the United States. 

ARTICLE IL 

OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. 

The Society of American Wars was instituted by Edward 
Junius Edwards, January nth, 1897, for perpetuating among their 
descendants the memory of the men who were instrumental in 
establishing the Colonies of North America and were founders of 
this Nation ; of the men who achieved American Independence ; 
and of the men who in military and naval positions of trust assisted 
in the preservation of the Republic in the 18 12, Mexican and Civil 
Wars ; collecting for preservation documents relating to those 
periods ; providing suitable commemorations of the prominent 
events connected with those periods ; and inspiring in its compan- 
ions the fraternal and patriotic spirit of their forefathers. 

ARTICLE III. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Section i. — This Society shall be composed of State Comman- 
deries and a Commandery-in-Chief which shall embrace all the 
companions of the several State Commanderies. 

5 



Sectio7i 2. — There shall be but one Commandery in each State 
of not more than one hundred companions, which shall be designated 

as "Commandery of the State of ," excepting "Commandery 

of the District of Columbia," which shall be designated as such. 

The seniority of the State Commanderies shall be determined 
by the respective dates of their institution. 

ARTICLE IV. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section i. — Any man of full age, of good moral character and 
reputation shall be eligible to active companionship in the Society 
of American Wars, who served with honor as a commissioned officer 
in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States, in the 
Civil War between the 12th day of April, 1861, and the 9th day of 
April, 1865; or in the Spanish War between the 21st day of April 
and the 12th day of August, 1898 ; or who is the lineal descendant 
of an ancestor (i) who served as a Governor, Lieutenant or Deputy 
Governor, or member of the Council or Assembly, or as a Military 
or Naval Officer under authority of the Colonies which afterwards 
formed the United States, from the settlement of Jamestown May 
13th, 1607, to the 19th day of April, 1783, and was instrumental in 
establishing the Colonies of North America or American Indepen- 
dence. (After December 31, 1899, strike out "or Assembly.") 
(2) Who served with honor as a Commissioned Officer in the Army, 
Navy or Marine Corps of the United States in — 

"The War of 1812, between the i8th day of June, 1812, and 
the 1 8th day of February, 1815," 

"The Mexican War, between the 9th day of May, 1846, and 
the 4th day of July, 1848," 

"The Civil War, between the 12th day of April, 1861, and the 
9th day of April, 1865," 

"The Spanish War, between the 21st day of April and the 12th 
day of August, 1898." 

Or (3) of a Companion of the Society of American Wars. 

6 



Section 2. — Every application for companionship shall be made 
to and after nomination by the Commandery of the State in which 
the applicant resides, if a Commandery exists therein, and if there 
be none then to such Commandery as the appHcant may be nomi- 
nated by. All names presented to the Society must be referred to 
the Committee on Companionship before nomination. 

Section j. — Formal application for Companionship accompanied 
by proof of eligibility must be made to a State Commandery in 
duplicate, upon blank forms prescribed by the Commandery-in- Chief, 
and shall in each case set forth the name, occupation and residence 
of the applicant, his line of descent, and the name, residence and 
personal service or services of his ancestor from v»diom he derives 
eligibility, under his affirmation upon honor that the statements are 
true to the best of applicant's knowledge and belief Such applica- 
tion and proof shall be referred to the Committee on Companionship, 
who shall carefully investigate same and report at the next meeting 
of the Board of Officers of the Commandery their recommendation 
thereon ; and the name, residence and occupation of every applicant 
shall be published in a circular. An application may be withdrawn 
before the ballot if any objections have been made thereto. The 
applicant shall be elected by a unanimous vote at a stated meeting 
of the Board of Officers of the Commandery. Payment of the 
initiation fee and dues and subscription to the Declaration of the 
Society shall be a pre-requisite of companionship. 

Upon the approval of an application by the State Commandery 
one copy shall be transmitted to the Registrar-General, who shall 
examine further the eligibility of the applicant, and unless satisfied 
that the Companion is eligible, he shall return the application, and 
thereupon the State Commandery shall, upon failure to satisfy the 
Registrar- General of the eligibility of such applicant, drop his name 
from companionship. 

Sectio7i 4. — Honorary Companions : Companions who have 
been specially distinguished for services to the National Government; 



but the number shall be limited to the number of States represented 
in the General Society's companionship. Honorary Companions 
shall be elected by the Commandery-in Chief. 

Section 5. — Members of the Society shall be entitled Compan- 
ions. 

Section 6. — All invitations to Companionship (prior to the 
annual meeting in 1900) to gentlemen residing in a State where a 
Commandery has not been instituted, shall be given by the Minne- 
sota Commandery. 

AI^TICLE V. 

OFFICERS. 

Section i. — The officers of the several State Commanderies 
shall consist of a Commander, two Vice- Commanders, Recorder, 
Treasurer, Registrar, Genealogist, Historian, Chancellor, Chaplain, 
Surgeon, Musical Director, and a Council consisting of not more 
than twelve Companions, which officers with the Ex-Commanders 
shall constitute the Board of Officers of the Commandery. They 
shall be elected annually by ballot by a majority of the votes cast. 

Should no candidate receive a majority of the votes cast at 
the first ballot, then the candidate receiving the lowest number of 
votes shall be dropped, and so on at each successive ballot. The 
Companions so elected shall be invested personally or by written 
acceptance, and enter upon the office at once, and hold the same 
until their successors shall have been elected and invested. 

Sectio7i 2. — The officers of the Commandery-in-Chief shall be a 
Commander General, seven Vice-Commander- Generals, Recorder- 
General, Treasurer-General, Registrar- General, Genealogist-General, 
Historian- General, Chancellor-General, Chaplain- General, Surgeon- 
General and Council-in-Chief, consisting of nine Companions, which 
officers shall constitute the Board of Officers of the Commandery-in- 
Chief. They shall be elected annually until 1900, and thereafter 
biennally in the manner prescribed for the election of officers of the 

8 



State Commanderies, and shall be invested personally or by written 
acceptance and enter upon their office at once, and hold the same 
until their successors shall have been elected and invested. 

(Provided that until the annual meeting in 1900 an Assistant 
Recorder- General may be appointed by the Commander-General, 
and the Recorder- General and Assistant Recorder- General shall 
respectively have such duties and powers corresponding to that of 
the Recorder, as may be designated to each of said officers by the 
Commander- General). 

ARTICLE VI. 

DUTIES AND POWERS OF OFFICERS. 

Section i. — It shall be the duty of the Commander to preside 
at all meetings of the Commandery or Board of Officers, enforce 
a strict observance of the Constitution and By-Laws, and perform 
such other duties as custom and parliamentary usage may require. 

Sedio7i 2. — The Vice-Commanders shall, when called upon, 
assist the Commander, and in his absence perform his duties, and 
shall succeed, in order, to his office in the event of his death, resig- 
nation or removal. 

Section j. — It shall be the duty of the Recorder to record the 
proceedings of the Commandery and of the Board of Officers, and 
collect all moneys due the Commandery. 

Section 4. — It shall be the duty of the Registrar to keep a 
register of the Companions of the Commandery, embracing the 
material facts relating to their membership. In the absence or 
disability of the Recorder, he shall act in his stead. 

Section 5. —It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive 
from the Recorder all moneys belonging to the Commandery, and 
receipt therefor. He shall give such security as the Commandery 
may direct. 



Section 6. — The Genealogist shall investigate all applications 
for Companionship. His approval on all applications shall be re- 
required before they are filed with the Registrar. An appeal from 
his decision may be taken to the Committee on Companionship, 
and, at their discretion to the Commandery. 

Section y. — The Chancellor shall have the care and custody of 
the insignia, ribbon and rosettes, and shall issue, on proper requisi- 
tions, the diploma and insignia. In the absence or disability of the 
Treasurer, he shall act in his stead. 

Section 8. — It shall be the duty of the Chaplain to open the 
several meetings of the Commandery with prayer, and perform such 
other duties as general custom may require of him. 

Section g. — The Council shall constitute a standing committee 
on accounts, and shall audit and adjust the Commandery' s books 
semi-annually, or oftener if required to do so, rendering reports 
thereof to the Commandery. 

Section lo. — The Board of Officers shall have general supervision 
and control over all property belonging to the Commandery. It 
shall have the power to fill vacancies in any of the offices of the 
Commandery, until the time of the next election, except in that of 
Commander, which shall be filled as prescribed in Section 2 of this 
Article, and may transact any other business pertaining to the Com- 
mandery except that of the annual election. 

Section 11. — Other duties may be prescribed for the officers by 
the By-Laws or by the Commandery upon recommendation of the 
Board of Officers. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Any officer who shall neglect or improperly perform the duties 
incumbent upon him, may be removed at any stated meeting by a 
vote of two-thirds of the members of the Commandery present. 

10 



ARTICLE VIII. 

MEETINGS. 

Sectio7i I. — The stated meetings of the several State Comman- 
deries shall be held at such times as they shall determine by a two- 
thirds vote ; Provided, however, That every Commandery shall 
hold an annual meeting in the month of April for the election of 
officers. 

Section 2. — Special meetings shall be convened at the pleasure 
of the Commander, or upon the written request of ten Companions 
of the Commandery upon seven days' notice. 

Section j. — Seven Companions of the Commandery shall con- 
stitute a quorum at any meeting for the transaction of business. 

Section 4. — None but Companions of the Society shall be 
present at its business meetings. 

ARTICLE IX. 

ARREARS. 

Section i. — No Companion in arrears shall be entitled to vote 
at the annual election of officers, or be eligible to any office in the 
Society. 

Section 2, — Any Companion who may be in arrears for three 
months or more, shall be notified thereof ; and if such arrears shall 
not be paid within one month after such notice, the Commandery 
may, by a majority vote of the members present, suspend the Com- 
panion until such arrears shall be paid or remitted. 

Section j. — Any Companion who shall neglect or refuse to 
pay such arrears may be dropped from the roll by vote of two-thirds 
of the Companions present at any stated meeting, unless it shall 
appear that the delinquency has occurred unavoidably, in which 
case the Commandery may remit the whole or any portion of such 
arrears by a two-thirds vote. A Companion so dropped, may, 

II 



upon payment of such arrears, be re-instated by vote of a majority 
of the members of the Commandery present at any stated meeting ; 
Provided, That notice of such intended action shall have been 
published by circular. 

ARTICLE X. 

COMMANDBRY-IN-CHIEF. 

Section i. — The Commandery- in- Chief shall consist of its 
Board of Officers and of the Commanders, Ex- Commanders, Vice- 
Commanders, Ex-Vice-Commanders, Recorders and Ex-Recorders 
of the several Commanderies. 

Section 2. — The duties and powers of the officers of the Com- 
mandery-in- Chief shall correspond with those prescribed in this 
Constitution and By-Laws for officers of State Commanderies. 

Section j. — The chief executive, legislative and supreme judicial 
power shall be vested in the Commandery-in-Chief. 

Sectioji ^. — The Commandery-in-Chief shall, in the name and 
by the authority of the Society, issue all diplomas of membership. 

Section^, — The Chancellor-General shall have the custody of 
the diploma plate, dies, insignia, ribbon and rosettes, and, upon 
requisition, shall deliver to the Chancellors of State Commanderies 
the diplomas, insignia and rosettes required for their respective 
Companions. 

Section 6. — Should any State Commandery cease to hold regu- 
lar meetings for one year, its charter may be revoked by the 
Commandery-in-Chief, and in the event of such revocation the 
Companions of such Commandery in good standing shall be trans- 
ferred to such other Commanderies as they may elect. 

Section y. — The headquarters of the Commandery-in-Chief 
shall be in the City of Minneapolis, Minn., until April, 1900; after 
that at Washington, D. C. 

12 



Section 8. — Special meetings of the Commandery-in-Chief shall 
be convened at the pleasure of the Commander- General, or upon 
the written request of twenty members, upon ten days' notice. Five 
members shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present 
at any meeting a quorum can be obtained by circular letter, under 
Section lo. 

Section g. — The expenses of the Commandery-in-Chief shall be 
provided for by the dues of Companions residing in a State where 
a Commandery has not been instituted, the admission fees of all 
Companions, and a pro rata assessment upon each State Comman- 
dery according to its respective number of Companions. 

Section lo, — Any business pertaining to the Commandery-in- 
Chief may be presented to its members (at any time prior to the 
annual meeting in 1900) by a circular letter sent to each member 
thereof, and their recorded votes thereon shall have the same 
effect and force as though given in a regular meeting of the 
Commandery-in-Chief 

ARTICLE XI. 

STATE COMMANDERIES. 

Section i. — Authority to organize a State Commandery may be 
granted by the Commandery-in-Chief, upon the vote of twp- thirds 
of its members present at any meeting, on written application by at 
least ten: Companions, whereupon a Charter shall be issued. 
Section 2. — The form of Charter shall be as follows : 
Section 3. — Upon issuing a Charter, the Commander- General 
shall designate the time and place for the organization of the Com- 
mandery. The officers shall then be chosen, and shall enter upon 
their duties at once, and hold office until their successors, elected 
at the annual meeting next following, shall have been invested. 

Section 4, — Each Commandery shall have power to adopt rules 
and regulations for its own government, which shall not conflict 
with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society. 

13 



Section ^. — Each Commandery on the first day of May in every 
year, shall make a full report of its condition, with a general history 
of its proceedings, to the Commandery- in-Chief. 

ARTICLE XII. 

Motto of the Society : Vicerzint vt Vivamus. 
Colors of the Society : Sa7igtime and Blue. 
Coat of Arms of the Society. 
Seal of the Society. 
Insignia of the Society. 
Diploma of the Society. 

COMMITTEE ON DESIGNS. 

A standing committee shall be appointed consisting of a 
Chairman, Secretary, and three Conipanions from different States, 
who shall prepare designs for the Coat of Arms, Seal, Charter, Di- 
ploma and Insignia, and report their recommendations to the Com- 
mandery-in-Chief from time to time. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

UNIFORM OF THE SOCIETY. 

Section i. — On occasion of ceremony. Companions may wear 
the uniform of their respective arm and grade in the service. 

The Insignia shall be worn conspicuously on the left breast, 
except that officers of the Society shall wear the Badge suspended 
by the Ribbon around the neck. 

Section 2. — Companions when not on duty may wear the Ro- 
sette of the prescribed colors in the upper button-hole of the left 
lapel of the coat. The Rosette shall not be worn at the same time 
as the Insignia, and the Insignia shall be worn at all meetings of 
the Society. (The Ribbon of the Society suspended from the In- 
signia bar may be worn in place of the Rosette). 

14 



ARTICLE XIV. 

AMENDMENTS. 

No alteration, addition or amendment shall be made to this 
Constitution unless it shall have been proposed by a State Comman- 
dery, communicated to all other Commanderies, and ratified by 
the vote of three-fourths of the Commanderies at the next succeed- 
ing meeting of the Commandery-in-Chief 



BY-LAWS. 



ARTICLE 1. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

The order of business at stated meetings may be as follows : 

1. The Commandery shall be called to order by the presiding 

officer. 

2. The Chaplain shall pronounce the opening prayer. 
The Recorder may call the roll of members. 
The minutes of the last stated and all subsequent meetings 

shall be read and acted upon. 
Companions- elect shall be installed. 

The stated business of the meeting, if any, shall be considered. 
Unfinished business shall be taken up. 
Reports of officers and committees shall be heard. 
Written communications shall be presented. 
New business may be introduced. 
Adjournment. 

15 



ARTICLE II. 

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Section i. — The general parliamentary law shall govern the 
meetings of the Commanderies. 

Section 2. — All official orders, communications, records and 
proceedings of whatever character, shall conform as nearly as possi- 
ble to the general regulations, usages and customs of the military 
service of the United States. 

ARTICLE III. 

INVESTITURE OF OFFIGERS. 

A Companion elected to any office in the Society, before being 
invested with the authority of the same, shall make a formal declara- 
tion upon honor that he will well and faithfully perform the duties 
of the office upon which he is about to enter, and comply with all 
the estabHshed laws and usages of the Society. 

ARTICLE IV. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE OFFIGERS. 

Sectio7t I. — In addition to those prescribed by the Constitution, 
the following duties shall be performed by the several officers of the 
Commandery : It shall be the duty of the Commander to appoint 
all officers and committees not otherwise provided for, of which he 
shall ex-officio be a member ; and sign all orders drawn upon the 
Treasurer, by order of the Board of Officers or the Commandery, 
for sums necessary to defray expenses, and for other appropriations. 

Section 2. — It shall be the duty of the Recorder to keep in 
books provided for that purpose — 

I St. The Constitution and By-Laws, rules and regulations of 
the Society. 

2nd. A letter-book of copies of all official letters. 

16 



3rd. A ledger, to contain the accounts of the Commandery 
with its members. 

4th. A receipt-book, in which to take the Treasurer's receipts. 

5th. It shall be his duty to keep these books in readiness for 
inspection by the Council, keep all accounts between the Comman- 
dery and its members, attest all orders drawn upon the Treasurer, 
and give due notice of all meetings. On the ist day of April in each 
year he shall forward to every Companion a statement of his account. 
He shall notify the Commandery-in-Chief and the State Comman- 
deries, from time to time as they may occur, of applications, the 
withdrawal of applications, admissions, rejections, suspensions, ex- 
pulsions, resignations, restorations and deaths. He shall have the 
care and custody of the Seal of the Society. He shall, at the last 
stated meeting in his term of office, make a full report of all moneys 
received during his term, and of all arrearages of Companions, and 
transfer to his successor in office, within two weeks after the expira- 
tion of his term, all books, papers or other property in his possession 
belonging to his office. 

Section j. — The Treasurer shall pay all orders signed by the 
Commander and attested by the Recorder, and none others, and 
retain these orders as his vouchers. He shall keep accounts of his 
receipts and expenditures, making quarterly statements thereof He 
shall pay over and deliver to his successor in office all moneys, 
vouchers, books and papers belonging to the Commandery. 

Section 4. — The Chancellor shall keep in a book full and 
complete records of the issue of Diplomas, Insignia, Ribbon and 
Rosettes. In no case shall he issue a duplicate Diploma or Insignia 
except by a vote of the Commandery of which he is Chancellor, 
based upon the statement, upon honor, by the applicant that the 
original has been either lost or destroyed ; provided, that a Com- 
panion obtaining such duplicate shall pay the actual cost thereof. 

17 



ARTICLE V. 

INSTALLATION OF COMPANIONS. 

A Companion-elect upon being installed shall, orally if present, 
and in writing if absent, make declaration upon honor that he will 
maintain the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution 
of the Society, and conform to its By-Laws and rules, and use his 
best endeavors to promote its objects and advance its interests. 

ARTICLE VI. 

FUNDS. 

Section i. — The fiscal year of the Society shall begin on the 
thirtieth day of April. 

Section 2. — The funds for the expenses of the Society shall be 
raised by admission fees and annual dues from each Companion, 
which shall be paid in advance. 

The admission fee of applicants for companionship shall be 
twenty-five dollars. 

The annual dues of Companions residing in a State where a 
Commandery has been instituted shall be five dollars (except that 
dues of commissioned officers of the United States Army and Navy 
shall be two dollars). 

The annual dues of Companions residing in a State where a 
Commandery has not been instituted shall be two dollars. 

Commissioned officers of the United States Army and Navy 
shall be exempt from the admission fee. 

The admission fees received from all Companions and the dues 
received from Companions residing in a State where a Commandery 
has not been instituted shall be paid to the Commandery-in- Chief. 

Sections- — Any Companion who shall pay, at onetime, one 
hundred and fifty dollars in addition to his admission fee, shall be 
exempt from the payment of all further dues, and all sums so paid 
shall be transferred immediately to the Treasurer for investment in 
such securities as shall be approved by the Board of Officers. 

18 



Section 4. — Should a Companion whose dues have been 
commuted by payment as hereinbefore provided, be transferred to 
another Commandery, there shall be paid to such Commandery an 
amount bearing the same proportion to the present value of a life 
annuity (Carlisle table, six per cent) at his present age that the 
commutation fee originally paid by him bore to that value at his 
age at that time. 

ARTICLE VII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

No alteration, addition or amendment shall be made to the 
By-Laws unless agreed to in the Commandery-in-Chief by three- 
fourths of the Commanderies. 



COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF, 
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN WARS. 

The above is a correct copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the 
Society of American Wars, as enacted and amended to May 23, 1899. 

May 30th, 1899. 
Attest: 

Edward Junius Edwards, 

commander-general. 

kendric charles babcock, 

Recorder-General. 



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